The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no left ear hearing loss disability and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss under VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs are silent for complaints or findings of left ear hearing loss, and there is no evidence showing a current disability. The Board found that the preponderance of the medical evidence established that left ear hearing loss disability has not been present at any time during the pendency of this claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ear Hearing Loss, Cardiovascular Disorder Other Than Hypertension (to specifically include Coronary Artery Disease), Hypertension, Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Disorder (Gastroesophageal Disorder, Hiatal Hernia with Esophagitis and Chronic Reflux), Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Disorder (Gallbladder and Pancreatic Disorder), Eye Disorder (Presbyopia, Refractive Error, Hypermetropia, and Residuals of Conjunctival Hemorrhage with Left Eye Vision Loss), Sleep Apnea, Surgical Scars Located on the Chest, Stomach, and Left Lower Extremity (Secondary to Disorders of the Cervical and Lumbar Spine, Left Knee, and Upper Gastrointestinal Tract), Left Foot Disorder with Arthritis (Heel Spurs) (Secondary to Onychomycosis), Bilateral Hammertoes (Secondary to Onychomycosis), Muscle and Joint Disorders of the Left Wrist, Left Thumb, Right Wrist, Right Elbow, Left Hip, Right Hip, and Right Knee (Myalgia, Myositis, and Arthralgia), Headache Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 19, 2018
- Citation
- 1803768
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1803768.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
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